Since the Taliban regained their toxic stranglehold of Afghanistan last week, I and my team have been trying to help nearly 50 local people get their families to safety and escape the truly terrifying situation that is unfolding in Kabul. These include Afghans who worked with and for the UK Government, or who have served with international aid charities.
One constituent’s father was murdered by the Taliban just for being a policeman. Another is desperately trying to get his wife and sister out of Afghanistan after his brother in law disappeared since a Taliban visit late one night last week. These are people who deserve our help but who have been let down by our Prime Minister and Foreign Secretary, who were both on holiday and consistently ignored warnings as the situation on the ground deteriorated.
It is defeatism of the Defence Secretary to declare now that not everyone will get out before his colleagues have even tried to secure additional international effort, but I will continue to act on behalf of any desperate local people whose family members are trapped in this chaos – please get in touch if you know anyone who needs help returning to the UK.
